Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus: Book Review

 Picture Book Review: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Williams

on February 14, 2021     /     By Lorena Nunez /    In Children's Book Reviews

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus

Author: Mo Williams

Illustrator: Mo Williams

Publication: 2003

39 pages

    Review by Lorena Nunez, student at College of the Desert, and participant in the course Children's Literature 

The Overall Concept

Caldecott Honor winning book “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” by Mo Williams is a funny and charming story between a reader and pigeon. By simply reading the title and words from the cover of the small children’s book, we can tell it consists of only a few words and pictures. The book overall is a back and forth silent conversation between a pigeon and the reader. In the beginning of the book, a bus driver expresses how important it is to not let the pigeon drive the bus while he is gone. However, as the man leaves a blue pigeon arrives to do his best in convincing the reader to let him drive the bus. Essentially speaking, the book revolves around a persuasive pigeon, his need in wanting to drive the bus, and the silly brides and excuses he makes to the readers in an effort to persuade them. 

Realistic Review

Something in the book that can be taken into consideration is the solemn fact that a pigeon can not drive a vehicle. You may call this a stereotype, although it is not really considered one since the book is based on an animal instead of an individual. Digging deeper, the stereotype that could be concluded, in an animal’s perspective, is the idea that an animal does not have the intelligence and/or stability to drive any sort of vehicle. Now because this is a children’s book, the reality of truth is not included in the writing, like in many other children’s books. In the beginning, the bus driver does not say, “Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus because he can’t, he is an animal,” instead he simply quotes, “Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus,” without stressing the fact that it is literally impossible. Although like I stated before, it is common for children's books to give a false reality to make the literary work more entertaining for youngsters.  

The problem in the story is brought upon by the bus driver as he states to readers to not let the pigeon drive the bus. As he walks away, a pigeon appears in the picture book, relieved to finally get a chance to drive the bus to only then have a controversial battle between the reader of the story. This back and forth text is what makes the story to entertainable for children. The pigeon brides readers with money, to befriend them, and other things. The pictures that are illustrated by the author as well connect to the emotions the pigeon is supposed to surpass to convince and/or make readers feel bad about not letting him drive the bus. 

There are no specific connections and/or relationships noted in the story. The bus driver tells readers to make sure to not let the pigeon anywhere near the bus. This goes to show that the only relation the bus driver has is the ongoing struggle with the pigeon wanting to sneak past him to drive it. As for the relationship between readers and the pigeon, the readers seem to take the more authoritative figure as it shows how we say no and the pigeon does nothing but try and convince us to let him. 

Luckily the book has no hidden objectives about racism, or animal abuse. It is simply a silly book for readers to interact with and learn from. The lessons that can be learned from children by reading this book is the importance of keeping promises, being responsible, persuasion, and the consequences of punishment. This also teaches kids how to not be easily manipulated no matter what they are offered. 

Author, Mo Williams, particularly makes the pigeon in his story a silly, but yet manipulative bird. As mentioned before, brides such as "I will be your best friend," or "I will give you five dollars" partake in the book. This serves to show reader how one can manipulative but must remain respectful and balanced. The author also makes not only a "hero" apparent in the book, but rather "heroes". The heroes in the story are the readers themselves as they are given the impression that they are denying the pigeons request and keeping their promise to the bus driver.

On a more personal note, this was my favorite book as a child. This is not the only pigeon story that has been written by Mo Williams, but is actually a series. All of the Pigeon books find hidden meanings and lessons for children to learn while reading something fun and silly. Although the stories lack a sense of reality, it is very common to keep a children’s innocence and playful nature. Also by acknowledging the time this book was written, women had already conserved their rights in society and were able to deny certain requests instead of being under control of a man. Although the male in the story is a pigeon, the time era acknowledges how anyone was able to say no.